MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2007 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Dawkins, Williamson, Jackson (11th), Harden, Walls, Simmons, Jordan, Horhn, Butler, Turner, Thomas, Frazier, Gollott, Jackson (32nd), White
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DESIGNATING MARCH 22, 2007, AS "MISSISSIPPI WATER DAY 2007" TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD WATER DAY OBSERVATION.
WHEREAS, "Coping with Water Scarcity" is the theme for the United Nations World Water Day 2007, which is celebrated each year on the 22nd of March. The theme highlights the significance of cooperation and importance of an integrated approach to water resource management of water at both international and local levels; and
WHEREAS, this theme was decided among all members of United Nations World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, in August 2006; and
WHEREAS, World Water Day in 2005 marked the start of a new United Nations International Decade for Action on water. The Water for Life Decade 2005-2015 will give a high profile to implementing water-related programs. This UN initiative will boost the chances of achieving international water-related goals and the United Nations Millennium Declaration; and
WHEREAS, the World Water Day observation focuses on water and poverty alleviation. Water and sanitation are critical factors to alleviate poverty and hunger, for sustainable development, for environmental integrity and for human health. The first water decade -- from 1981 to 1990 -- brought water to over a billion people and sanitation to almost 77 million; however, the job was only half done. There are still almost 1.1 billion people without adequate access to water and 2.4 billion without adequate sanitation; and
WHEREAS, equity and rights, cultural and ethical issues are essential to be addressed when dealing with limited water resources. Imbalances between availability and demand, the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, intersectoral competition, interregional and international disputes, all center around the question of how to cope with scarce water resources; and
WHEREAS, while we are a water rich state, it is essential that the State of Mississippi become aware of the national and international issues of water resource management and coping with water scarcity:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby designate March 22, 2007, as "Mississippi Water Day 2007" to highlight the importance of water resource management in conjunction with the annual United Nations World Water Day observation, and urge all citizens to increase awareness of water conservation programs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be forwarded to the State Department of Education for distribution to the public schools and to the State Department of Health for distribution to the general public and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.